EMERGENCY PLANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 197, 22 July 1941, Page 4

EMERGENCY PLANS

SUPPLY OF WATER.

COUNCIL INVESTIGATION. The provision ol’ adequate water for fire-fighting purposes in the city in the event oi an emergency was further considered by the Palmerston North City Council, iast evening, when a report on the subject was received from the engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes), who submitted certain estimates. His report was based on the provision of a scheme at minimum cost with regard to material still available for the main commercial area, and also the more densely populated residential area, ilc expressed the view that the paramount importance of the question hinged on the minimum requirements for firefighting purposes without incurring too great a cost.

“This, iii my opinion, so far as the main commercial area is concerned, can be achieved by the putting down of an artesian well in the Square gardens alongside the present lakelet, in eonjunction with other works to be later explained.” said Mr Hughes. “In the first place it must he borne in mind that eaeli lire stream requires 250 gallons per minute; that a fire within the business area may require the use of lour lire streams; that wt could not expect a greater flow of more than ,'IOO gallons per minute from an artesian well, and as the duration of a large fire is from three to four hours, it is obvious that adequate storage of water would have to he provided. The present lakelet has a capacity of 90.000 gallons which, with the flow of a well, would afford a supply for only two hours. 1 propose that the sides be raised six inches, and this additional storage will provide pumpage for two and a half hours. The distances across the Square are too great for a conflagration to he satisfactorily dealt with on the northern side of the railway lines. T propose, therefore, that this side of the square he served by a 12in diameter pipe line from the lakelet to two pump wells, one opposite the C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., and one opposite the Hank of Australasia. Owing to the fact that there is a fall of 2ft in the ground level across the Square, the sump opposite the O M. Ross Co.’s premises will require to stand up 2ft above ground level. The curator of reserves states that this can he satisfactorily located so as not to interfere with the work, of maintenance. Adequate storage is required also on this side of the Square. I his can be provided either by means of an underground reservoir or the construe-j tion of a lakelet in that portion of the ; Square adjacent to the Post Office*! The latter has many points to reeom- j mend it, in addition to it being the, cheaper proposal. “The estimated cost is made up as follows: 4in artesian well, £750: 12in diameter concrete pipe line across Square, including sumps, £560: construction of lakelet. Post Office Square, £1380; raising walls of existing lakelet, £100; total, £2790. RESIDENTIA L A R EA. “As regards fire-fighting in the more thickly populated residential

areas, provision lias now neen, 01 is being made, for pumping from various watercourses, the use ot an artesian flow at the railway engine, sheds, and the supply contained in the various swimming baths throughout the oitv,” the report added. “This latter supply amounts to 737,000 gallons. I have conferred with the Fire Brigade superintendent regarding necessary protection in the residential areas, and he expressed his satisfaction with the above arrangement. The flows from existing artesian wells at Heretaunga Street and Vogel Street, together with a storage capacity of 700,000 gallons, is also available for domestic supply as well as for fire-light-ing purposes. “River pumping scheme. —urtlier to my report of March 12, the stock sheets show that we have the equivalent of 45 chains of Sin and 9in, and 11 chains of 12in cast iron pipes available. This would he sufficient to reticulate the Square only and provide for a portion of the 12in main in Fitzherbert Avenue. The cost, therefore, of the scheme estimated at £BOIO would bo reduced by £I9OO, making the revised estimate £6llo:’’ The report was referred to the next meeting of the works committee and in the meantime copies of reports dealing with emergency fire-fighting and connections to duplicate mains arc to he supplied to councillors. The council authorised the sinking of a trial hole in the Square opposite the promises of the C. M. Ross, Co.. Ltd., to ascertain whether water is available in sufficient quantity for firefighting purposes, the estimated cost; being £SO. Cr. J. T. J. Heatley urged that any scheme undertaken should be an ade quate one, and the Mayor (Mr A. F. Mansford) said that the first step to take was to prove that the water is available, and the installation of any scheme would follow this.